Blackjack Variations

Online blackjack games are frequented by millions of players worldwide. It's entertaining and also has a great pay out rate if you follow the right strategies. It is more or less a straightforward game but there are some variations that you should pay attention to while playing in different venues. Below is a list of 12 different types blackjack games and their rules. Make sure to check out some of our other articles on strategy and rules.

Game variations

Classic Blackjack

In the classic rules of blackjack, each player faces the dealer. You are given two cards initially and you can either stick or hit in order to get your hand as close to 21 as possible without going over or "busting". The goal is to beat the dealer who must hit if his hand is lower than 17 and who must stick if his hand is 17 or above.

European Blackjack

In European Blackjack, the game is played with two decks. Doubling down can only be done if you have a 9 to 11. You can't double down after splitting and there is no resplitting or surrendering. The dealer has to hit on soft 17.

Vegas Strip Blackjack

Vegas Strip Blackjack also uses two decks. You can double on any first hand and you are permitted to double after a split. You are also permitted to resplit to three hands meaning if you receive another card with the same number on your first split, you can split again.

Multi-Hand Blackjack

In this variation, the game is played with five decks and the dealer stands on soft 17. You can only double with a hand from 9 to 11 and there's no doubling after splitting or resplitting. The player is also not permitted to surrender.

Single Deck Blackjack

The house advantage for this variation is a lot lower than the others because you can count cards quite easily. It's played with one deck and the dealer hits on soft 17. You can double down on any hand and doubling after splitting is allowed but you can only split once.

Progressive Blackjack

In this online blackjack game variation, there is a jackpot bet that must be made with each hand. This jackpot continues to grow throughout the day. If you get one 7 then you win $5. Two consecutive 7s wins you $25. If they are the same suit you get $50. Three gets you $250 and if they're the same suit $1000. If you receive three consecutive diamond 7s you win the jackpot that can be tens of thousands of dollars!

Blackjack Switch

In Blackjack Switch, the player must make two bets of equal size and the cards are dealt face up. The player is allowed to switch the second card dealt to each hand. You can double on any hand and double after a split, but you can only split once. Blackjacks pay out 1:1 and a dealer 22 will push against any hand except a blackjack.

Spanish 21

In Spanish 21, you can double down on any number of cards. Different combinations of blackjacks pay out with varying levels of bonuses. There are no 10 cards in the deck, so the only cards with a value of ten are face cards.

Double Exposure Blackjack

In Double Exposure, both the dealer's cards are dealt face up and the dealer wins on all ties except blackjack. Blackjack pays 1:1. The game is played with 8 decks and the dealer hits on a soft 17. You can resplit up to four hands and doubling down can only be done from 9 to 11. Doubling after a split is allowed.

Double Attack Blackjack

In Double Attack Blackjack, the player can bet on what the dealer's next card will be with different ratios of payouts. See our Double Attack table for more details.

Pontoon

Pontoon is a variation of blackjack where you can split on any two cards with a value of ten even if they are not the same. If you split aces you can only take one more card on each. The dealer wins on a tie and any five cards adding up to less than 21 pay out 2:1. You can surrender only if the dealer is showing an ace or a face card and the dealer must hit on a soft 17.

If you keep all the types of blackjack in your life, above all, you'll always have a good time.